Ironing machine



E N O m R T s A C A J IRONING MACHINE 12 Sheetsv-Sheet 1 Filed March 19, 1937 MW M. Kyzzkme J. A. CASTRKCONE 2A 11mm IRONING MACHINE 1'2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1957 May 3, 1938. J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1938. J. A. CASTRICONE 2,115,941

IRONING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Klfikdf/ May 3,, 11938.

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IRdNING MACHINE:

' Filed March 19, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 May 3, 1938. J. A. CASTRICONE IRONING MACHINE Filed March 19, 1937 12 Sheets-Sheet l2 Patented May 3, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE IEONING MACHINE John A. Oastricone, Peoria, Ill. Application March 19, 1937, Serial No. 131,940

16 Claims.

This invention pertains to ironing machines for both domestic and commercial uses. The invention is illustrated as applied to an ironing machine of the roll bed type but as will become 5 apparent hereinafter, certain features of the invention may be utilized in ironing machines of other types.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an ironing machine in which one of the ironing members may be given a rocking or back-and-forth ironing movement of a character very similar to the movement utilized by a person in operating a flat or sad iron, whereby, for instance, a piece of cloth or other material may be thoroughly pressed without passing it through the ironer or between the ironing members several times. Inthe embodiment illustrated, the ironing roll or bed of cylindricalform is arranged to be rocked back and forth on its horizontal axis to eflect the motions specified and for the purposes mentioned.

Another object is to provide an ironing machine mechanism whereby the ironing roll or bed and the ironing shoe may be moved longitudinally relative to one another for various purposes including the positioning of a portion of the-roll or bed for cooperative relationship with an auxiliary be termed ironing butts or pads for special iron- 40 ing purposes, and to provide auxiliary ironing rolls, beds, butts or pads in the form of attachments, if desired, for cooperation with an ironing shoe.

A further object is to provide a novel arrange- 45 ment for releasing the ironing shoe or shoes from its or their operative positions in order to permit the shoe or shoes to be moved to inoperative positions in case of failure of power or in any other emergency. 50 A still further object of the invention is to provide an ironing machine construction wherein two or more ironing shoes may be pressed against the work through the same mechanical power connections yet independently of one another. 55 Many other objects, the advantages and uses the invention;

Fig.2 is an end elevational view of the, right hand end of the ironing machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine showing a combination shoe and flat iron;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the top portion of the machine on a scale slightly greater than the scale of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the right hand end of the machine shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale but with certain parts omitted showing a general arrangement of the roll driving andironing shoe operating mechanisms.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the. roll and shoe operating mechanism taken substantially along the line VIVI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially along the line VII--VII of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of a part of the mechanism for controlling the operation of the ironing shoe and the ironing roll;

Fig. 9 is a detail view taken substantially along the line IX--IX of Fig. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along the lineX-X of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan of a part of the mechanism utilized in controlling the operation of the ironing shoes; 1

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation view, partly in section, along the line XII-2H1 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the line XIV-XIV of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary elevationalview showing parts in section and taken along the line XVXV of Fig. 4;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the emergency iron release mechanism illustrated in the left hand comer of the face of Fig. 4;

Fig. 17 is a view of the left hand end (as respects the front of the machine) of the ironing roll with parts broken away to illustrate the support for the roll, the view also illustrating a conical roll attachment and a modified form of ironing shoe wherein primary and secondary shoes are integral or structurally secured together.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary end elevation taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. 1'1;

- Fig. 19 is a view of the left hand end of the ironing roll and ironing shoe illustrated in Fig. 17 with a different ironing bed or butt attachment, taken along the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 20; Fig. 20 is an end elevational view of the mecha-' nism illustrated in Fig. 19; I

Fig. 21 is a more or less diagrammatic view of an end of an ironing roll and overhanging end portion of an ironing shoe with a special flexi- The machine in general The ironing machine illustrated in all views except Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive, comprises in general, an ironing roll 2 supported at one end by a standard or frame 3 upon a cabinet 4, a primary ironing shoe 5 supported upon a standard 6, a secondary or auxiliary iron I supported upon a standard 8, driving or operating mechanism carried within a housing 8 in turn enclosed by the cabinet 4, and a motor ill to supply the power necessary to operate the various mechanisms. Whereas controls for controlling-the operation of the machine are illustrated and will be described in conjunction with the parts controlled,

usually employed for such purposes.

The drive mechanism The shaft of the motor l0 may be coupled through any suitable coupling mechanism with a vertically mounted shaft II which finds bearing in a bearing member l2 carried on the housing 9. The upper end of the shaft l carries a worm i3 which at its upper end is journalled in a bearing l4 carried in a boss or projection l5 formed integral with or otherwise secured to the housing 9. The worm l3 engages and drives a worm gear i6 which is rotatably mounted upon a shaft I! which at one end is carried in a bracket l8 secured to the housing member 9 and which at its other end is secured by a reduced portion I9 within a boss 2| on the housing 9. The shaft I1 is provided with an enlarged portion 22 which provides sufiicient strength for it to act as a journal for a pinion 23 which is rotatably mounted thereon. The end of the pinion adjacent to the worm gear I8 is provided with a clutch member 24 adapted to be engaged with and to be disengaged from a clutch member 25 formed integral with or otherwise secured to the worm gear IS. A clutch operating member receiving groove 26 is provided between the teeth of the pinion 23 and the clutch member 24 for engagement of a forked clutch control member or arm 21 which, as will be described hereinafter, serves to shift the pinion longitudinally of the shaft portion 22 to engage or disengage the clutch parts 24 and 25.

A member 28 formed with gear teeth 29 meshed with the teeth of pinion 29 at one end and having an eccentric or cam 88 at its other end, is rotatably mounted between hardened plates 92 and I 38 on a stub shaft 84 secured in a boss" on the housing 9. An eccentric strap 88 surrounds the eccentric or cam 3| and forms part of a crank arm 31 which is pivoted at its opposite end by a pivot pin 38 to a rocker arm 39 pivotally mounted upon a stub shaft 4| secured in a boss 42 formed on the housing 9. The opposite end of the rocker arm 39 has a sector gear 43 formed integral therewith and adapted to mesh with a pinion 44.

, The pinion 44 carries a bushing 45rotatably upon a reduced end of a shaft 48 and is also rotatably mounted in a bushing 41 carried by a boss 48 on the housing 9. A cap 49 may be used to close the end of the bearings to form a seal for the hearing. The opposite end' of the shaft 48 is rotatably supported in a bushing 5| secured to a bracket 52. This end of the shaft also eatries a sprocket 53 which is secured thereto as by set screw 56. Spaced from the bushing 5| by I a thrust collar 51 which is pinned on the shaft 'by means of pin 54, is a pinion 58 which is freely rotatable on the shaft 46. Between the pinions -44 and 58 is a clutch collar 59 which is splined to the shaft 48 by a plurality of splines 6| and which at one end is slotted as at 82 for clutching engagement with pins 63 rigidly secured in pinion 58. The opposite end of the clutch collar 59 is provided with a number of slots 64 adapted to engage in corresponding teeth formed in the inner end of pinion 44. The splined portion of the shaft 48 is enlarged to provide a shoulder to position the pinion 58.

The clutch collar 59 has an annular groove 86 within which a clutch shifter block 51 is disposed, the shifter block being pivotally mounted upon a pin 68 eccentrically secured to a flanged stub shaft 69 rotatably-supported in a forked carrying member H in turn supported by three cap screws 18 secured in bosses I2 (only one shown) formed on the housing. Mounted on the stub shaft 69 between the forked arms of member II and secured to the shaft by a shear pin 13 is a pinion 14 which meshes with a sector gear 15 rockably mounted upon a pivot 16 fixedly secured to a part of member H. The sector gear 15 forms one arm of a lever the other arm 11 of which is pivotally connected as at 18 to a rod 18 which is connected through a leverand suitable connections with a control handle 8|. Movement of the control handle 8| in one direction will operate the sector gear 15 to cause rotation of the pinion 14 which in turn will shift the clutch collar 59 longitudinally of the shaft 48 to engage pinion 44 or pinion 58 depending upon which connection is desired and the direction in which the control handle 8| is moved. The extent of movement of the sector gear 15 is determined by the abutment of a stop pin 82 fixedly secured to the sector gear 15 and rocking in a closed slot 83 formed in an extension 84-of one arm of the forked supporting member 1|.

Between the rocker arm 39 and the internal end of the stub shaft 4| is a pinion 85 which is rotatably mounted on this shaft and held in place thereon by a thrust washer 86 in turn held in place by a cotter or shear pin 81. The pinion gear 85 is arranged at all times to mesh with pinions 23 and 58 and the gear 29 likewise at all times is in mesh with pinion 23 regardless of whether the clutch members 24 and 25 are en- 44, 58 and 85 will be in motion although the shaft 46 may be still if the clutch collar 59 should be in a neutral position. xIf the clutch collar 59 be shifted to connect the shaft 46 with pinion 44, the shaft 46 will be rocked back and forth whereas if the collar 59 be shifted to connect the shaft with pinion 58, the shaft 46 will be rotated.

The roll support 3 is hollow and of a cantilever form as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. Intermediate of its length is a shaft 88 which carries a large sprocket 89 and a smaller sprocket (not shown). A chain 9I is trained over sprockets 53 and 99 and a chain 92 is trained over the other sprocket on the shaft 88 and over sprocket 93 which in turnis connected with the roll 2 for driving the same. The arrangement is such that the roll 2- may be rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 5 or may be oscillated.

The bottom of the housing 9 is so formed as to provide an oil sump within the low partv 94 of which a. small idler gear 95 is mounted for rotation upon a shaft 99 secured in the housing. This-idler gear is arranged to dip into a body of oil 91 carried in the sump and to carry the same to the worm gear I8 and to other moving parts but as this mechanism and the bearing boss I2 (the bearing boss I2, incidentally, is removable from the housing) form no part of the present invention and are described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 69,007, filed March 16, 1936, they will not be further described herein.

Power applying mechanism for roll and ironing shoe rock shaft Rotatably mounted on the shaft I1 is an element 98 which is arranged to be rotated between the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 8 and a position of 180 removed therefrom. The inner end of element 98 isprovided with two transverse slots 99 and IM which are substantially at right angles to one another. Within the slot 99 and pivotally mounted upon a reduced portion II9 of the member 98 is a member I92 having oppositely directed fingers I93 and carrying a pin I94 and normally urged in a counterclockwise direction about the portion I94 (viewing Fig. 9) by a tension spring I fixed between a post I98 and one of the fingers I93 and a post I91 carried by the element 98. Within the slot NH and slidable therein is a plate I98 which is slotted as at I99 to receive the pin I94, which has an elliptical slot III through which the shaft I1 and the portion II9 pass freely, and which is provided with a plate H2 at one end, the plate II2 being rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner. The plate II2 has a tooth II3 adapted to be received in any one of a series of conforming depressions or notches II4 formed in a disc II5 a pivot pin II9. This dog II 1 may be released from a finger I 93 when the lever H8 is moved about its pivot in the direction of the arrow shown thereon in Fig. 9, whereupon the spring I95 will swing the member I92 about its pivot to the opposite side of slot as from the position in which It is shown in Fig. 9, thereby causing the pin I94 to move the slide plate I98 to the left, thereby engaging the tooth II3 with one of the recesses H4 in the disc H5, and element 98 will proceed to rotate with gear I6 if this gear is being rotated.

The lever .8 is arranged to be operated through certain connections, including a pull rod I2I, a crank arm I22 secured on one end of a pivot pin I23 rotatably mounted in a boss I24 on the housing 9, a crank arm I25 secured on the opposite end of pivot pin I23, a pull rod I 28 and a lever I21 pivoted within the cabinet at I23 and pivotally connected to the pull rod I28 as at I29. In order to limit the movement of cranks I22 and I25 and thus the extent of movement of lever II8, the crank I25 is continued beyond the pivpt I23 where it is forked to provide projecdog I I1 from behind the tooth I93 whereupon the control will be immediately released so that the dog H1 is free to engage behind a succeeding finger I 93 to which position it is returned immediately by the action of a'tension spring I2I' which may be secured between the pull rod I2I and a portion of the bracket 52. Thus when the element 98 has rotated the succeeding finger I93 will engage the dog, and through the medium of the pin I94, engaged with the walls of the slot I99, will move the tooth II3 out of engagement with the disc H5 and the element 99 will come to rest.

The outer end of element 99 is formed with an eccentric I3I about which an eccentric strap I32 is secured. At the high point of the eccentric and inwardly therefrom, a cam surface I33 is formed, the purpose of which will shortly appear. The eccentric strap I32 may be formed integrally with a housing I34 for a spring I35 one end of which spring is arranged to abut against tongues I36 struck from the housing I34. A rivet I31 may serve to hold the housing sides in position as well as to retain the end of the spring I35 in position. The opposite end of spring I39 bears against a pin I38 rigidly secured through and to the arms I39 of a forked crank member MI fixedly secured to a rock shaft I 42 rotatably mounted in bearings I43 carried by a boss I44 on the housing 9. The rock shaft I42 projects outwardly of the housing 9 where it is pinned by a pin I45 in sleeve boss I46 formed in a casting I41. A hardened plate I48 also surroundsthis end of the rock shaft I42 and is secured to the casting I41 by a bolt I49. The rock shaft I42 is extended even beyond the plate I48 where .it enters a guide bushing. member I5I securely pinned by a pin I52 to a shaft I53. The guide bushing member I5I is provided with an integral projecting portion I54 within which a plunger I55 ls reciprocally mounted and normally urged toward the left (viewing Figs. 4 and 16) by a spring I58 which abuts at one end against a shoulder formed on the plunger I55 and a shoulder formed on a gland nut I51 which may be screwed .into the member I54 but through which the plunger I55 is adapted to be slid.

The hardened plate I48 is provided with an aperture adapted snugly but slidably to receive the end of plunger I55 andwhen the plunger I55 is entered into this aperture the shaft I53 is rigidly connected with the rock shaft I42 to be rocked thereby.

It will be apparent that when the operator releases the dog II1 from one of the fingers I03 and the element has rotated through 180 the element will, in one position, come to rest as shown in Fig. 6 where the spring I35 will have been compressed and will have urged the pin I38 toward the extreme right. The forked crank member -I4I and the rock shaft I42 will have been rocked to the position shown in Figs. and 6, but, depending upon the extent to which the rock shaft I42 may be moved (this movement is determined by several factors althou h chiefly by the contact of an iron with a roll or bed memher as will later appear) the pin I38 may ride back in the slots I40, while the spring I35 compresses. Upon the operators next release of the dog II1 the element 98 will again rotate 180 at which time the tension upon the spring I35 will be released and the forked crank member MI and the rock shaft I42 will be urged in a clockwise direction (viewing Fig. 5) and at this time the cam surface I33 will have engaged a projecting arm I58 secured between a flange I59 and a sleeve I6I carried by a plunger I62 slidably held in a boss I63 on housing 9 and urged outwardly of the boss by a spring I64. Held between the nut I65 and the sleeve I6I is the forked clutch control member 21. When the cam surface I33 strikes the arm I58 it forces the plunger I62 into the recess of the boss I83, compressin spring I64, and simultaneously, through the forked clutch control member 21 disengages the clutch elements 24 and 25.

The main ironing shoe and its operating mechanism Thestandard 8 pivotally supports an ironing shoe carried by a support member I86 on a pivot I61 passing through ears 6 on the standard 6. The ironing shoe 5 is mounted upon the supporting member I66 on a pivot pin I68 which is arranged to slide back and forth in a bearing boss I69 formed on the member I66, the pin I68 being securely fastened to a plate carried by the ironing shoe. A handle I1I is pivotally carried on the pin I68 and maybe swung from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. 5. The ironing shoe support I66 is arranged to be rocked about the pivot I61 to carry the iron toward or away from the ironing roll 2 by a curved operating rod I12 which at its upper end is pivotally secured as at I13 to the support I66 and at its lower end is pivotally connected as at I14 to one arm of a two part bell crank lever generally designated I15. A tension spring I connected between the pivot I 61 and a post I10 secured to the operating rod I 12 normally tends to pull the rod I12 upwardly and to swing the iron support I66 and the iron away from the ironing roll.

The two parts of the bell crank lever I may be in the nature of a casting I16 and a hardened steel anti-wear plate I11 abutting thereagainst and secured thereto by a rivet I11, the said casting and plate being rotatably carried on the rock shaft I53. The pivot pin I14 upon which the operating rod I12 is carried is firmly secured in the member I16 and rod I12 is held in place by a washer and pin together designated I18. The member I18 may be provided with a. projection or boss I19 to serve as a stop for purposes to be described and the two bell crank members I16 and I11 are provided with registering apertures generally designated I8I, for the reception of a connecting bolt or pin I82. The shaft I53 finds support in a bearing member I83 secured in a frame member I84 fixed between the cabinet top and a housing member I85 which is arranged to house the emergency release mechanism, the rock shaft and mechanism for operating the primary ironing shoe 5. The rock shaft I53 projects onward beyond the bell crank lever I15 and is bored concentrically to receive and provide a bearing support for one end of an auxiliary rock shaft I86 which is connected with the auxiliary iron 1.

The connecting bolt or pin I82 is utilized to connect either the auxiliary iron 1 or the primary iron 5 with rock shaft I53 so that whichever iron is desired for use may be operated leaving the other iron idle and out of operating position. This pin I82 is slidably carried in arms I81 of a member I88 which is fixedly secured to the shaft I53 for rotation therewith by a pin I89. A thrust plate I9I forming an additional support for the shaft I88 is secured to the ironing machine frame. The auxiliary iron rock shaft I86 carries a crank arm I92 pinned thereto as by pin I93, the

crank arm I92 having an aperture I94 therein for reception of the connecting bolt I82. It will be noted that if the connecting bolt I82 is moved sufficiently to the left (viewing Fig. 12) its left hand end will pass through the registering apertures in the two parts of bell crank lever I15 and will connect the operating rod I12 with the rock shaft I53. The auxiliary rock shaft I86 will be disconnected from the rock shaft I53 at this time. If on the other hand the connecting bolt I82 is shot to the right (viewing Fig. 12) its right hand end will enter the aperture I94 in the crank arm I92 and connect the auxiliary rock shaft I86 with the rock shaft I53, at the same time disconnecting the primary iron from the rock shaft I53.

In view of the possibility that the primary iron when disconnected from the rock shaft, might be swung by the spring I10 to a position where it might be difficult again to insert the bolt I82 in the hole or aperture I8I in the bell-crank I15,

stop members may be provided to insure registration of the pin or bolt I82 with the aperture. To this end a stop lug 6' on the standard 6 is arranged to be engaged by a stop member I12 adjustably mounted upon the operating rod I 12. The stop member I12 is adjustably positioned to engage the stop lug 6' to limit further movement of the primary iron when the main rock shaft is in its released position (i. e. when both the primary and the auxiliary ironing shoes are in released positions) and at which time the bolt I82 is in register with the aperture I8I. It will also be noted that the ends of bolt I 82 are slightly tapered or bevelled to aid in entering the bolt in the apertures I8I and I 94.

The mechanism for shifting the bolt I82 comprises a shift lever I95, one end of which is engaged in a slot formed in the top of the bolt I82 and the other end I96 of which is connected with a spring overthrow mechanism which will be described. The center portion of the lever I95 is secured against rotation relative to, but for rotation with, a pivot pin I91 which is rotatably mounted in an arm I98 carried by the member I88 while the upper end of the pin I91 is secured for rotation with but against rotation with respect to an operating arm I99 which in turn is connected with a pull and push rod I leading to a hand control lever to be described.

l A branch arm "20 2 of the arm I96 carries a within which a tension spring 235 is carried. The

pivot pin 203 which rotatably supports a cage 264 tion to the other so that the bolt may connect either the primary iron or the auxiliary iron with the rock shaft I53.

Before proceeding to describe the auxiliary iron and its immediately associated operating mechanism it may be desirable to digress momentarily to describe the connections by which the machine operator may control the emergency release and the mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the primary and auxiliary irons with the rock shaft. At the front of the cabinet for quick action by the operator is a lever 209 which at one end carries a knob 2. The other end of the crank lever 209 passes through a pivot bearing 2I2 at the front of the cabinet and projects rearwardly of the cabinet through a boss 213 in a frame element to a connection with a crank 2 which is slotted as at 2I5 to receive one end of a shift lever 2 I 6, the other end of which is pivotally mounted upon the machine frame as at 2". The emergency release plunger I55 is connected with a pull rod 2I8 by a pivot pin 2I9 and the rod 2I3 is pivotally connected to the shift lever 2I6 by a pivot Hi. In case the motor should fail while either iron is being pressed against its ironing bed, the operator may disconnect the rock shaft I53 from the rock shaft operating convenient reach of the operator is a lever control member 222 pivotally supported in the cabinet frame on a pivot 223 and pivotally connected as at 224 with the push-pull rod 2M.

By pushing or 'pulling on the upper end of lever 222, the operator may shift connecting bolt I82 to connect whichever iron is desired for use.

The auxiliary iron and its immediate operating mechanism The auxiliary iron I is carried by a pair of parallel arms 225 which are pivotally secured to the iron upon pivots 226 at one end and which at their other ends are pivotally secured as at 22'! upon brackets 223 carried by a cap 229 pivotally carried by a pivot 23I at the upper rear portion of the standard 8.

The auxiliary iron I is moved against its cooperating ironing bed and away therefrom by a rod 232 which passes through an aperture 233 formed in a boss in the cap member 229. Adjustment nut 234 threaded on the upper end of the rod 232 serves to confine and compress a spring 235 between cup washers 236 one of which abuts the nut and the other of which abuts the upper rounded end of the boss through which the rod 232 passes. A pin 231 and a washer 238 serve to limit the extent to which the rod 232 may pass upwardly through the aperture 233 and the bottom portion of the boss is. rounded as is the top part to permit certain slight rocking or adjustment motion between the rod and cap member S m. n will in be notedthat the aperture m is made considerably larger in diameter than the diameter of the rod 232 to permit of relative adjustment between the'cap member 229 and the rod 232; likewise a lug 239 fcrmed'on-the standard 3 at its lower end has an aperture through which" the rod 232 passes-and this'aperture is large enough to give a substantial amount of clearance around the rod. A tension spring 24I engaged at one end with the pivot 23I and at its other end secured to the rod 232 as at 242 normally tends to raise the rod 232, and the cap 24 I is overcome and the iron is moved against its bed by certain connections between the rod 232 and the rock shaft I96 now to be described.

The lower end of the rod is firmly secured to one leg of an L-shaped plate 243, the other leg 244 of which has an elongated aperture 245 through which the auxiliary rock shaft I96 passes and a second elongated aperture 246, the major axis of which is substantially at rightangles to the major axis of the aperture 245 through which a crank pin 241 is carried by a crank arm 246 cast integral with a crankmember 249 which may be adjustably secured to the auxiliary rock shaft I86 by a set screw 25I. As in connection with the primary iron, it is desirable to insure registration only determines the length of travel of operating rod 232 but also will determine the position of the arc of movement of shaft I86 and crank arm I92 thereby fixing the position of crank arm I92 for register of aperture I94 with bolt I82.

A bearing member 252 suitably supported from the frame of the machine rotatably carries the outer end of the auxiliary rock shaft I86. A rod or link 253 engaged at one end in a strap 254 secured to the primary iron 5 and at its other end secured in a lug 259, carried by one of the parallel arms 225. may be employed to connect the auxiliary and primary irons for simultaneous shifting movements longitudinal of the ironing bed or roll 2 but as will be understood this link may be disconnected and either iron used independently of the other if such use be desired. The auxiliary shoe I may be shifted so as to operate on the end of the roll or on any of th attachments hereinafter described.

Certain ironing attachments Referring more particularly to Figs. 17 to 23, inclusive, and for the present; to Figs. 17 and 18, it will be noted that the ironing roll or pad 2 is composed of a sheet metal cylinder 256 about which suitable padding and the like 25] is secured in any manner well known in the art. A dished plate 258 is welded or otherwise secured to the cylinder 256 at a place a fair distance inside of the outboard end of the cylinder and has a cylindrical flange 259 adapted to surround and rotate about a stationary hollow shaft 26l which at its end shown in Fig. 1'? is free'and unsupported although at its opposite end it is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the standard 3. A round shaft 262 secured at its outboard end to a spider 263 which in turn is firmly secured to the dished plate 258, has its opposite end mounted in a suitable bearing and firmly secured to the sprocket 83 for rotation therewith. The end of the cylinder 266 is partially closed by a dished plate 284 which is welded or otherwise firmly secured to the cylinder 256.

At places 180 displaced from one another on a diameter passing through the axis of the cylinder 258 and centered equal distances from said axis are two sleeves 285. These sleeves may be firmly secured to circular upstanding flanges 266 formed in the dished plates 258 and 264. The sleeves 265 are arranged slidably toreceive a pair of rods 281 which are firmly secured to what may be termed a hub member268 which has an outwardly flared circular portion 268 the outer edge surface 2" of which is finished to provide a guiding surface adapted to cooperate with a beveled guide surface 212 formed on a circular flange integral with a conical roll member 213. The roll 213 has a pair of spaced arms 214 which are pivoted upon pivot pins 215 carried by a block 216 which in turn is pivoted at right angles to the pins 215 upon a pivot pin 211 carried by arms 218 formed on the hub member 288. Suitable padding 218 on the surface of the conical roll 213. surfaces the roll for ironing purposes.

In Fig. 17 modified forms of ironing shoes are 1 shown, the primary shoe 5' being shown as integral with or otherwise firmly secured to the auxiliary shoe 1'. However, the auxiliary ironing roll 213 will cooperate with either the auxiliary iron 1 or the auxiliary iron 1' and it is immaterial that the roll 213 happens to be shown in connection with the ironing shoe 1'. In either case when the roll 213 is in use the pressure of the auxiliary ironing shoe upon the top of the roll will maintain the roll in position illustrated in Fig. 1'1 with the guide surface 212 rolling upon the guide surface 2 as the primary roll rotates. It is a simple matter to attach or detach the conical roll 213 to and from the primary roll and some ironing operations which could not be performed between the primary roll and the primary shoe may be performed by the use of the auxiliary roll 213 and the auxiliary ironing shoe. I In Figs. 19 and 20 a segmental ironing pa attachment has been illustrated. Here as in the case of the previous attachment a pair of rods 28I are insertable into the sleeves 265 but are pivotally connected upon pivot 282 upon an elongated hub member 283. A pair of arms 284 and 285, one carrying an ironing bed 286 of small arc and the other carrying an ironing bed 281 of larger are, are cast integral with or otherwise secured to the hub 283.

Inasmuch as there may be occasions when it is desirable to retain this segmental ironing bed connected with the main ironing roll but free from cooperative relationship with an auxiliary ironing shoe, the operator may pull the segmental bed endwise until the segmental bed portions may be swung about the pivot 282 to dispose the smaller segmental bed 286 in line with an aperture 288 formed in the dished member 264 whereupon the operator may push the segmental bed 286 through the aperture. Similarly if it be desired to move the conical ironing bed or roll 213 out of cooperative position with an auxiliary ironing shoe, it is merely necessary to raise the ironing shoe from the conical bed and permit the roll to swing about one of its universal joint pivots so that the low point of the guide surface 212 is continuously engaging the low point of the guide surface 2".

In Figs. 21 to 23, of which Figs. 21 and 22 are more or less diagrammatic, what may be termed a flexible ironing board or ironing bed has been illustrated. This flexible bed, generally designated 288, may be composed of a sheet of spring steel 28I, although it may be composed of other suitable material, covered by felt or other suitable fabric covering 282 on both sides. The fabric covering preferably extends beyond the marginal edges of the steel core and is sewn together around the margin as by sewing 283. 'I'heparticular flexible board illustratedis designed for pressing or ironing portions of articles such as a shirt about the collar thereof for which purpose an arcuate notch 284 is provided in one of the longitudinal edges of the board. The flexibility of the board permits it .to be passed through the ironing machine between the ironing shoe and the primary or an auxiliary roll, the board flexing to conform to the ironing surfaces as it passes through and thereafter to restore itself to its original flat position. It will also be noted, as illustrated in Fig. 21, that when the primary ironing shoe has been shifted where its end 284 overhangs one end of the ironing roll (in embodiments illustrated at the end of the roll adjacent to the standard 3) the machine is ideally arranged for use of the flexible pad 288.

Operation of the machine Assuming that the motor switch (not shown) has been thrown to start the motor 6, the worm I3 will drive the worm gear I6 continuously. As

, soon as the operator nudges the control lever I21 with her knee, the dog II1 will be released from behind the finger I83, shown at the top of'Flg. 9, but which at this time will have been situated at the bottom. As soon as the dog II1 releases this flnger I03, the tooth H3, engaging in a notch II4, will rotate the member 88 through 180 at which time the lever I21, having been released, the dog I I1 will engage the succeeding flnger I83 putting the parts in the position where they are illustrated in Fig. 9. At this time the eccentric I3I will have compressed the spring 835 and will have rocked the rock shafts I42 and I53 ina clockwise direction (viewing Figs. 13 and 14).

The 180 rotation of the member 88 will have carried the cam I33 away from the projecting arm I58 and the spring I64 will have moved the sleeve I6I to carry the clutch control member 21 and the gear 23 longitudinally of the shaft 22 to engage the clutch members 24 and 25. As soon as the clutch members 24 and 25 are engaged, the gear 23 will drive the gear 28 and the gears 85 and 58 and the gear 28, through the connections previously described, will rock the sector gear 43 which in turn will rock the gear 44. Depending upon whether the operator desires to have the ironing bed or roll 2 rotated or rocked, she will move the control handle 8| to the right or to the left, thereby engaging either clutch elements 62 and 63 or clutch elements 64 and 65, respectively.

If the primary and not the auxiliary iron is to be used, the operator will shift the lever 222 in such direction as to shift the connecting bolt or pin I82 between the member I88 and the bell crank lever I15 whereupon, when the rock shaft I53 is rocked, as previously described, the primary iron will be brought down upon the ironing roll. If on the other hand, the operator desires to utilize the auxiliary iron, the lever 222 will be moved in the opposite direction to that previously mentioned, to shift the connecting bolt or pin I82 between the members I81 and I84, at the same time releasing the primary ironing shoe.

The stop I18 is provided to prevent the bolt I 82 from over-riding the plate I" and engaging behind the inner edge thereof with possible serious damage resulting therefrom, as might occur were someone to press the primary ironing shoe against the roll and then' attempt to shift the bolt to connect this shoe to the rock-shaft. Were the primary shoe to be pressed against the roll under such circumstances, the bolt cannot slip past the edge of plate I" because the boss I81 will-engage the stop I19 and tend'to throw the primary iron back to its inoperative position and, in any event, will prevent the bolt from riding beyond the edge 'of plate I". Similarly, a stop "9' serves to prevent the opposite end of the bolt from catching behind an edge of crank I92. I The ironing machine illustrated and any other machine which may be utilized with ironing shoes and shoe control and operating mechanisms of a character such as described, when assembled with primary and secondary irons integrally or otherwise rigidly connected together as depicted in Figs; 17 to 20, inclusive, and Fig. 24 will not utilize a separate mount for the auxiliary ironing shoe nor the mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the auxiliary shoe with the shoe rock shaft. This, of course, .is more or less obvious. However, the remainder of the operating mechanism may be the same as or closely similar to that described, supra.

The primary shoe and the auxiliary shoe 1' because they are integrally or otherwise secured together as a unit, will be shiftable together longitudinally of the ironing roll or bed 2 by means of handle I'll either to cause the end of the primary shoe 5' to overhang the supported end of bed 2 or, when shifted in the opposite direction, to cause the auxiliary or secondary shoe 1' to overhang or project beyond the opposite end of the bed 2. The flexible bed 289 may be used with the overhanging end of the primary or main shoe '5 or' it may be used with the secondary or auxiliary shoe 1' in a similar manner. Then, too, the auxiliary, shoe I may be used with the various other auxiliary rolls or attachments as will be appreciated. The auxiliary shoe I may be pointed at its forward end after the manner of an ordinary hand iron for the purpose of that arrangement.

While I have illustrated and described a pm ferred form of the invention and preferred types of attachments and have indicated certain modifications of features thereof, many other variations and arrangements may be devised within the purview of my contribution. Consequently I do not desire to be limited except by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. I

I claim:

I. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll and cooperatively mounted ironing shoe, of mechanism for rotating the roll either continuously in one direction or in to-and-fro partial rotations, and setting means for said mechanism whereby it will rotate the roll in said continuous direction or automatically repeat to-and-fro partial rotations thereof.

2. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll and a cooperatively mounted ironing shoe, of mechanism for operating the roll including a motor and instrumentalities interposed between said motor and said roll, comprising means to rotate the roll continuously in one direction and means for effecting automatic oscillations of the roll between fixed limits. and controlling means to elIect either of said actuations.

3. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser rolland cooperatively mounted ironing shoe, of mechanism to impart to said roll successive oscillations between two fixed limits about its axis while it is maintained in a fixed position, and control means to start up said successive oscillations and for stopping thesame at will.

4. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll and cooperatively mounted ironing shoe, of a motor, and mechanical instrumen'talities between the motor and the roll to efiect rotation of the latter, said mechanism including lnstrumentalities whereby the roll will have rotation continuously in one direction and other instrumentalities whereby said roll will have successive to-and-fro partial rotations, and control means for selectively effecting the operation of either of said instrumentalities.

5. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll, of an ironing shoe, means for efifecting engagement of the articles to be ironed between the roll and shoe, and mechanism for imparting continuous oscillations of the roll between two fixed limits, whereby a particular area of the said article will be subjected to correspondingly repeated pressing actions of mechanically predetermined extent.

6. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll, of an ironing shoe, means for effecting engagement of the article to be ironed between the roll and shoe,

and mechanism for imparting an automatic succession of to-and-fro partial rotations of the roll whereby a particular area of the said article will.

be subjected to correspondingly repeated pressing actions of mechanically predetermined extent, said mechanism including means to effect continuous rotation of the roll to an unlimited extent in one direction, and means for selectively effecting either said to-and-fro partial rotations or said continuous rotation.

'7. In an ironing machine, an ironing roll, an ironing shoe cooperatively associated with said roll, and operating mechanism including means for rotating said roll continuously in a given direction and means for imparting a continuous oscillatory movement to said roll while the roll is maintained in a given position with respect to the shoe, in combination with means for selectively efiecting the operation of either said continuously rotating or said oscillating means.

8. In an ironing machine,-an ironing roll, an ironing shoe cooperatively associated with said roll, and operating mechanism for rotating said roll continuously in one direction orv for effecting continuous oscillatory movements of the roll and shoe between two fixed limits while the roll and shoe are maintained in a given position with respect to each other, in combination with a selective control for effecting either said continous rotation or said oscillatory movements.

9. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with cooperative members comprising a. feeding and presser roll and ironing shoe mounted for relative movement towards and from each other, of operating mechanism including means for continuously rotating the roll in a given direction or for imparting to-and-fro movement between the feeding and presser roll and ironing shoe within fixed limits when in ironing engagement while maintaining one of said members stationary and the roll in a given position with reference to the shoe, and a control for mechanically eflecting the character of operation of the operating mechanism to accomplish ironing in a continuous direction or spot ironing in to-and-fro directions.

10. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser .roll, a primary ironing shoe normally coextensive with the roll, and an auxiliary ironing shoe, of means for mounting the primary ironing shoe whereby the same may be moved into a diflerent position longitudinally of the roll to uncover an end portion of the roll, and-means for independently mounting the auxiliary ironing shoe whereby the same may be engaged with a portion 01' the roll which has been uncovered.

11. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a primary feeding and presser roll, an auxiliary presser member, and a movably mounted ironing shoe adapted to be bodily shifted into ironing relationship with either the primary presser roll or the auxiliary presser member.

% 12. In a clothes ironing machine, the combina- I on with an ironing roll, and an ironing shoe having a curved under face complemental to the surface curvature of the ironing roll, of means for mounting said ironing shoe normally beyon'd the endo! the ironing roll, said mounting for the ironing shoe being formed and arranged to permit the shoe to be moved substantially longitudinally of the roll into ironing relationship with the latter.

13. In a clothes ironing machine, the combina- "tion with a feeding and presser roll, a primary of the roll, and means for independently mounting the auxiliary ironing shoe whereby the same may be engaged with a portion of the roll which has been uncovered, including connections between the primary and auxiliary shoes whereby the displacement of the former will cause the latter to assume its ironing position with reference to the roll.

14. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll, a primary ironing shoe normally coextensive with the roll and an auxiliary ironing shoe, of means for mounting said roll and shoes for relative longitudinal movement with respect to the roll whereby to effect pressing positioning of the roll and the primary ironing shoe or pressing positioning of the said roll and the auxiliary ironing shoe.

15. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll, of a cooperating ironing shoe substantially coextensive therewith, and means for supporting said shoe to enable swinging movement of the shoe toward and from the roll on an axis parallel to the axis of the roll, said supporting means including parts permitting adjustment of the shoe to various stations therealong and lengthwise of the roll.

16. In a clothes ironing machine, the combination with a feeding and presser roll and cooperating ironing shoe, of supporting means whereby the shoe may be swung towards and from the roll on an axis parallel to the of the roll and adjusted to different stations along said supporting means and lengthwise of the roll, and means enabling manual positioning of the shoe to suecessive stations along said supporting means to suit the article being ironed, so that said article may be supported on an exposed portion of the roll beyond the shoe and'the shoe moved up at will to pressing relationship with said article to correspondingly iron succeeding portions thereof.

JOHN A. CASTRICONE. 

